A World View of Your
Own
Perhaps you fell into the abyss of Depression simply because
you did not have a philosophy of your own. Your world-view is akin to the
ballast of a hot-air balloon. It keeps you steady. Finding your own philosophy
is a long drawn process. In fact, the preparation should start sufficiently
early, preferably during the fag end of your education. As one finishes the
degree (just to make a living in most cases), one has to undergo a phase called
‘moratorium’. This is the time for acquiring Knowledge. Get it from various sources, from music,
travel, visual arts, history, psychology, modern physics etc. You have to
imbibe the spirit of religion too, the Love of Christianity, the Brotherhood of
Islam, the Compassion of Buddhism, the eternal righteousness (Sanatana Dharma) of Hinduism etc.
Moratorium is a phase for purification. What’s more, one can
get purified from man-woman relationship too. The advantage of Moratorium is
that you’ll have a fairly good idea of what is right and what is not. You will
be interested only in the kernel and sift through the chaff. And bear in mind
that an open mind is the only requisite.
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| Gadgets -Jay Marvin |
Most likely, you will be at the crossroads by the end of
Moratorium. You have to find the practical application of the noble ideas
you’ve absorbed. One is already convinced that cultivation of Love and practice
of Selflessness is the basis of all, however, the starting point is elusive. Don’t
worry! Take into consideration the underlying unity of things and your wavering
withers away. Check whether the act
upholds it. A selfless act propelled by hate is to be denounced.
The ultimate purpose of human life is self-realization, no
doubt! However, the path is hard and insecure. Make good use of religion at
this point. Religion can give you a push towards God , it places you into the orbit like a rocket
giving the necessary thrust. Thereafter you must leave it because religion and
spirituality are two different entities. The path is based on spirituality and
not on religion. Even if you fall short of destination, don’t worry. You have already
become a good human being. Your actions are beneficial not only to yourself but
to others as well. That’s worth the effort!
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| Manic - Jay Marvin |
You are alert and attentive. You have the power of discrimination
based on your life-experience and observations. You are no longer haunted by
the bitterness of the past or by the anxieties of the future.
If you distinguish between pleasure and happiness, you will
be convinced that pleasure is a poor substitute for Happiness. Happiness stems
from a sense of fulfillment.
You could be a revolutionary trying to change the
world or a sanyasin trying to find
its meaning, ultimately the mental make-up of both are the same. One is tuned
outwards whereas the other inwards. Both give a sense of fulfilment. The seemingly strange pair constantly make an
effort to denounce pleasure, as they know by gnosis that it is a poor
substitute. They also know that it is a
trap, worse than quicksand which will devour you however hard you try to
escape. In fact you would never try to escape even, as pleasure seekers always
ask for more. Indulgence can never be through.
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| Rider of Meadow Hope - Jay Marvin |
John Kenneth Galbraith coined the term “Marginal Men” by
which he meant shortsighted people who can’t see beyond their compound walls. Expand
your world-view progressively so that eventually it includes the entire
Universe. Think globally (at least) and act locally. You just can’t go wrong. Align
with the less fortunates and the victims. At least make a wish for their
turn-around!
Treat everyone with respect. All is one! Nobody is first
among equals in the larger scheme of things. Some people make a dispute here. According
to them, the steps of a building and the idol inside the temple are made of the same stuff, natural stone. Do
you treat them with equal respect? No. Likewise, you must discriminate among
people based on their credentials. Actually, this is a fake argument. One
must see the Creator in both the outcast (chandal)
and the elite. One step further, one must see the reflection of oneself in both
individuals.
Harbor no hatred.
The revolutionary and the sanyasin
always hook themselves on a spear, raise it to their eye-level and look
straight into their own eyes. The alertness and attentiveness required is
equated to that of a person trapped in a closed room with a poisonous snake!
Can you do that? If the answer is “Yes”, you’re saved!
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| We all chimed in - Jay Marvin |
The issue is also of Freedom, the extent to which one is
entitled for. Freedom has a common domain to be shared with others. This is the
domain for interaction. In other words, Freedom cannot exist in vacuum. You are
entitled for your freedom so long as you allow others to honor theirs.
Love and Selflessness. The issue of commodification occurs
due to our failure to put it into practice. In Love, you always give and least
worried about what you get (in return). Take
the case of man-woman relationship. What makes it most beautiful and unique?
Even in lovemaking, the man or woman always tries his/her level-best for the
complete satisfaction of his/her partner and that itself gives satisfaction for
himself/herself. Because sex is all love and no lust.
Everything, not only sex, should converge to a win-win
situation.
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